OWNER AND PLACER COUNTY WHO SAYS HIS SALES ARE BLOOMING. >> THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR OLDEST GUNS. >> THIS IS WHAT EWG GUNS IN LOOMIS IS KNOWN FOR. HISTORICAL FIREARMS. THE SHELVES LINED WITH GUNS THAT ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD. NOW IN THE AGE OF CORONAVIRUS, BUYERS ARE TARGETING NEW WEAPONS. >> INSTEAD OF A COLLECTOR WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WERE JUST CONCERNED ABOUT DEFENSE. >> ED GILBERT SAYS BUSINESS IS BLOOMING. LAST MONTH WAS HIS BUSIEST IN THREE YEARS. IN APRIL HE SOLD THE EQUIVALENT OF SIX MONTHS WORTH OF GUNS. MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE BUYING FOR THE FIRST TIME. >> I WOULD SAY HONESTLY THAT 95% OF OUR SALES IN THE LAST MONTH HAVE BEEN TO NEW GUN OWNERS. >> FEAR TRIGGERED PEOPLE TO BUY. >> THE NIGHT BEFORE AN EXAM, EVERYBODY IS CRAMMING INTO THE GUN STORES, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED. >> WHAT IS TELLING IS THE MOST POPULAR GUN, GLOCK HANDGUNS. HE HAS RUN OUT. >> WE HAVE GOT ONE SPRINGFIELD, ONE BROTHER. >> IT IS NOT JUST PLACER COUNTY. THE FBI RAN 3.7 MILLION BACKGROUND CHECKS IN MARCH. THAT IS THE MOST EVER SINCE THE SYSTEM LAUNCHED. AND ONE MILLION MORE THAN THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR. THOSE BACKGROUND CHECKS TRANSLATE TO 2.6 MILLION GUN SOLD IN MARCH. >> WE NEED THREE THINGS AS HUMAN BEINGS. SUSTENANCE, SHELTER, AND SECURITY. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SECURITY YOU DO NOT DO TO KEEP THE FIRST TWO. >> GILBERT SAYS OWNING A GUN IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. HE IS POINTED PEOPLE TO STUN GUNS INSTEAD. >> WE DO HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE DENIED PURCHASES. IT IS NOT JUST TO SELL GUNS. IT IS TO ARM AND EDUCATE. >> A NOVEL VIRUS SPARKING PEOPLE TO

Gun sales across the country are soaring in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. "All of a sudden, we have a lot of first-time gun buyers that are coming in that are genuinely concerned," said Ed Gilbert. Gilbert owns EWG Guns in Loomis, California. He said his sales are skyrocketing, with last month being his busiest month in over three years. In April alone, he sold the equivalent of six months' worth of guns. The U.S. had a gun-sales surge in March. It was the second-highest surge ever according to the New York Times. The FBI ran 3.7 million background checks during that month. That is the most ever since the system launched, and over a million more than the same time last year. Those background checks translate to nearly 2.6 million guns sold in March according to the consulting firm Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting."We’re probably at a 250% increase in sales right now," he said. Gilbert said his gun shop is known for its historical firearms, but now in the age of the coronavirus, buyers are targeting newer weapons. "Instead of the collector, now we’re looking for the people who are just genuinely concerned about defense," Gilbert said. Gilbert said 95% of his buyers last month were first-time gun owners. Fear during the pandemic is triggering people to buy. "It’s like the night before an exam. Everybody’s cramming into the gun stores trying to figure out what they need, how to buy it," he said. What’s telling is the most popular gun Gilbert sold: Glock handguns, a semi-automatic pistol. He sold so many of those pistols that he ran out. "We need three things as human beings: We need sustenance, shelter and security. If you don’t have security, you don’t get to keep the first two," Gilbert said. But Gilbert also said owning a gun isn’t for everyone. He has pointed some people to pepper spray, tasers or stun guns instead. "We have denied purchases," he said. "We do have a huge responsibility here. It’s not just to sell guns, it’s to arm and educate."

LOOMIS, Calif. —

Gun sales across the country are soaring in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

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"All of a sudden, we have a lot of first-time gun buyers that are coming in that are genuinely concerned," said Ed Gilbert.

Gilbert owns EWG Guns in Loomis, California. He said his sales are skyrocketing, with last month being his busiest month in over three years. In April alone, he sold the equivalent of six months' worth of guns.

The U.S. had a gun-sales surge in March. It was the second-highest surge ever according to the New York Times. The FBI ran 3.7 million background checks during that month. That is the most ever since the system launched, and over a million more than the same time last year. Those background checks translate to nearly 2.6 million guns sold in March according to the consulting firm Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting.

"We’re probably at a 250% increase in sales right now," he said.

Gilbert said his gun shop is known for its historical firearms, but now in the age of the coronavirus, buyers are targeting newer weapons.

"Instead of the collector, now we’re looking for the people who are just genuinely concerned about defense," Gilbert said.

Gilbert said 95% of his buyers last month were first-time gun owners. Fear during the pandemic is triggering people to buy.

"It’s like the night before an exam. Everybody’s cramming into the gun stores trying to figure out what they need, how to buy it," he said.

What’s telling is the most popular gun Gilbert sold: Glock handguns, a semi-automatic pistol. He sold so many of those pistols that he ran out.

"We need three things as human beings: We need sustenance, shelter and security. If you don’t have security, you don’t get to keep the first two," Gilbert said.

But Gilbert also said owning a gun isn’t for everyone. He has pointed some people to pepper spray, tasers or stun guns instead.

"We have denied purchases," he said. "We do have a huge responsibility here. It’s not just to sell guns, it’s to arm and educate."